Corrosion of Condenser Tubes Due to Carbonaceous Film on the Surface

Abstract

This paper describes pitting corrosion that has occurred in the condenser tubes in a numbu of power stations in the Republic of South Africa. The power stations concerned are situated inland and use fresh surface water, concentrated in cooling towers, for condenser cooling. Investigations indicate that the corrosion is similar to the pitting of copper potable water tubes caused in the U.K. and elsewhere by the presence of carbon film formed on the surface during tube manufacture. Many turbine and condenser tube manufacturers, however, disagree with these findings and some of their views are given in this paper. The author is of the opinion that accelerated corrosion due to this cause is more general than most corrosion engineers believe.